Wire line tool for use in wells



Jan. 21, 1964 J. RIKE ETAL WIRE LINE TOOL FOR USE IN WELLS Filed Dec. v5, 1960 F IG. 3A.

INVENTORSA JAMES L. RIKE, GARLAND c. TERREI.,

FIG. 2.

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent O 3,118,503 WIRE LINE TOOL FOR USE IN WELLS James L. Rike and Garlandv C. Terrel, Houston, Tex.,

assignors, by mesne assignments, to Jersey Production Research Company, Tulsa, Okla., a corporation f Delaware Filed'Dec. 5', 1969, Ser. No. 73,820 5 Claims. (Cl. 1166-162) This invention relates generally to well workover operations, and more particularly to wire line apparatus for squeezing a liquid through perforations in a pipe string cemented in a bore holein the earth.

In connection with weil complet-ion operations, it is customary to cement either a casing string or one or more production pipe strings (flow tubings) tothe sides of a borehole that penetrates one or more productive earth formations. The purpose of the cementing operation is to1 prevent uidmigration between productionk zones when. two ormore zones are' to be produced through the same borehole or between the uppermost production zone and fresh water sandsA penetrated by the. borehole. For any of a number of reasons there may bean imperfect bond between. the cement and the. sides of the borehole. For example, the mud or filter calce may have been imperfectly removed before the cernenting operation so that earth formation iiuids migrating to the well bore duringrproduction' could at least partially wash away the lter cake. When it is suspected thatvoids exist between the cement andthe sid-es of the borehole, it is customaryV to place a bridging plug in the: pipe string, to perforate the pipe string, and the surrounding cement above the bridging plug, andv to squeeze a quantity of a luid cementitious mixture, such as al cement slurry or a fluid plastic, through the new perforations. The iluid cementitious mixture remaining in the bore of the pipe string then may be circulated out by means of a tubing string lowered within the pipe string. A similar operation may be conducted to seal oit perforati'ons to a formation that has been depleted preparatory to reperforat-ing for the purpose of reproduci'ng another formation;

0n many other occasions it is desirable to squeeze other types of liquids through perforations in a pipe string. Examples of such liquids are acids,` plastic sand-consolidating liquids, an-d surface-active agents.

There are circumstances' when it is undesirable to circula-te out liquids remaining in a pipe string after a workover or maintenanceY operation. It then becomes desirable to lower the liquidV into the well on a wire line tool, to squeeze the liquid through perforations in the pipe string, and to remove the excess liquid from the pipe string along with the wire line tool.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an elongated tubular mandrel is provided with a bore to'effect fluid communication between spaced-apart locations thereon. Aflixed to the lower end of the mandrel above the lower spaced-apart location is means, including sealing means, for sealing the annulus. between the mandrel and the inner wall of a perforated wel-l pipe string. An outer, generally tubular member is provided around the mandrel which engages the means including the sealing means to forml a container for a liquidsuch as a cement slurry. Ancho-ring means attached to theouter member functions tocontrollably anchorv the outer member to the inner wall of the'pi-pe string at a selected depth immediately above the perforations in the wellv pipe string. Annular sea-ling means affixed to the outer member functions to seal? the annulus between the outer member and the. inner wall of the pipe string. Thus, when the outer member is anchored to the pipe string, the mandrel` may be dropped away from they outer member so that the means including the sealing means is below the perforations. When hy- ICC draulic pressure is applied through the pipe string and the outer member, the liquid in the container is squeezed through the pipe string perforations. After the squeezing opera-tion, the mandrel may be raised tosweep most of' FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus;

of FIG. 1 as it is lowered into the well;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are sectional views of upper and lower portions of the apparatus of the invention, respectively, in the positions occupied thereby as cement is being squeezed. into the pipe string perforations, and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along section 4--4 of FIG. 2.

With reference now to FIG. 1, there is shown a well',

pipe 3y cemented in a borehole 1 which penetrates a productive earth formation 23. The well pipe 3l is illustrated as a casing string but may be a production pipe string: cemented to the walls of a borehole in accordance with so-calledV tubingless completion techniques. It will be assumed that the well pipe has been perforated to formperfcrations 25 extending through the pipe string 3, theV surrounding cement sheath 2., andY into the earth, formation 23. .lt will be further assumed that for some reason it has become, desirable to squeeze a liquid such as a cement slurry into the perforations. It will be further assumed that the well pipe has previously been provided with an apparatus such as collar stop 29, or a bridge plug, which has been set in the well pipey 3 below the level of earth formation 23. If it is desired to use a collar stop, a suitable apparatus may be found at page 43317 of the Composite Catalog of Oil Field Equipment and Services 24th revision (1960).

The apparatus illustrated as being lowered into the wellv comprises an elongated housing, including an outer housing member 9 and a slip mandrel 16. The upper portion of a central elongated mandrel 35 is shown extending above the housing and as. being connected to a wire line 4 by means of j -ars 8, a connecting stern 7', and a wire line socket 5. The wire line socket, stem, and jars may be apparatus such as is illustrated at page 4354 of the Composite Catalog of Oil Field Equipment and Services, 24th revision.

As is more perspicuously illustrated in FIG. 2, at the lower end of the tubular mandrel 35 there is aiixed an end member 24 to which is connected annular sealing means 221, which may be swab cups of conventional design. The end member 2d is provided with an upwardly facing shoulder 2da, the function of which will become evident below The tubular mandrel 35 is illustratedas bein-g open at its lower end, but if it is desired to have the mandrel extend somewhat below the position illustrated and to be closed at its lower end, a port may be provided therein so as to effect iiuid communication thereinto from below the sealing means 251. A port l13 is provided near the upper end of mandrel 35 so that, in effect, huid communication is provided through thev bore between spaced-apart locations thereon. The mandrel is provided with a tapered shoulder near the upper end thereof below port 1'3 for purposes described below. Y

As indicated above, the housing member includes a substantially tubular outer member 9 and a slip mandrel 16. The slip mandrel is slidably affixed to the lower end of the outer member 9 and is provided with an annular recess 41 which matingly engages a shoulder or annular flange 43 at the lower end of outer member 9 so as to provide a limited amount of longitudinal relative movement therebetween. A shear pin 42 is provided to releasably connect together the outer member 9 and the slip mandrel 16 in the position illustrated in FIG. 2. The slip mandrel 16 extends downwardly and engages the shoulder 24a of end member 24 so that, in effect, slip mandrel 16, end member 2'4, outer member 9, and mandrel 35 form a container for a fluid cement 37, which may be either a cement slurry or a fluid plastic.

As is illustrated most perspicuously in FIG-S. 2 and 4, plurality of slips 17 are affixed to a slip carrier 19 which is adapted to longitudinally slide along the lower end of slip mandrel 16. The usual retainer ring 22 is provided for the slips. The upper ends of the slips ride up on a tapered seating surface 18 on mandrel 16 so that the slips may be biased outwardly into engagement with the inner wall of well pipe `3.

Immediately above the slip mandrel 16 a rubber packing element is affixed to the outer housing member 9. rIhe rubber packing element 15 has a truncated conical inner surface 15a and preferably extends over the tapered upper surface of the slip mandrel 16. When the slip mandrel slides upwardly after shear pin 42 has been sheared, the rubber packing element 15 is biased out against the inner surface of pipe string 3 so as to provide a seal between the outer member 9 and the pipe string.

A plurality of dogs 11 are pivotally afiixed within ports 14 at the upper end of outer member 9. The dogs have upwardly directed teeth and are pivotally biased outwardly by spring elements 12. The lower portion of each dog extends into the bore of the outer member 9 so that the tapered surface 6 of mandrel 35 will engage them to pivot the serrated teeth thereof away `from the walls of the pipe string. When the apparatus is assembled as shown in FIG. 2, it may be lreadily lowered into or retrieved from the pipe string.

As indicated, the apparatus is lowered into the pipe string when the component parts thereof are assembled as shown in FIGS. l and 2. When the apparatus is at the depth at which it is desired to set the slips 17, which is preferably a short distance above the perforations 25, the slips are jarred into anchoring relationship with the pipe string. The wire line 4 is allowed to rapidly unreel for a short distance so that the apparatus drops in substantially free fall such that the slips will ride up on the tapered surface 18 and will engage the walls of the pipe string 3. It may be necessary to perform this operation several times in order to securely affix the slips to the pipe string; this is a well-known technique and will not be further discussed herein. When the slips have been set, further downward jarring by means of jars 8 will drive the serrated edges thereof into even firmer engagement with the pipe string. This downward jarring with jars 8 also will shear the pin 42 so that the outer member 9 will fall to the position relative to slips mandrel 16 that is illustrated in FIG. 3A. Rubber packing element 15 will be forced out into sealing engagement with the pipe string 3 to prevent fluid passage through the annulus between the outer member 9 and the pipe string. Further downward jarring will shear the pin 31 which connects together the outer housing 9 and the mandrel 35. Mandrel 35, end member 24, swab cups 21, and the fluid cement will drop until the end member 24 rests on collar stop 29. The fluid cement will now be opposite perforations 25 so that hydraulic pressure exerted thereon through the pipe string and the bore of the housing will squeeze the fluid cement into the perforations 25, as is illustrated in FIG. 3B. The end member 24 and mandrel 35 now may be pulled upwardly so that swab cups 21 Will SWP the lllid Gmllt. rmaining in the pipe string bore back into the bore of the housing. Dogs 11, which were pivoted outwardly when the mandrel was dropped to the position illustrated in FIG. 3B, will oppose any tendency of the housing to rise upwardly through the borehole when the cement is being swept into the bore of the housing. When shoulder 6 reaches the position illustrated in FIG. 2, the dogs will be pivoted inwardly and the entire apparatus may be retrieved from the borehole.

It is to be noted that when the fluid cement is being squeezed into the perforations, there is no differential pressure across the swab cups 21 inasmuch as the fluid pressure is also transmitted past the swab cups through the bore of mandrel 35 and passageways which may be provided in the collar stop 29. In the event passageways are not provided in the collar stop 29, differential pressure will only result in the mandrel being raised slightly so that fluid is squeezed under end member 24 to equalize the pressure across the swab cups 21.

In the event that it is not desired to provide a collar stop 29, a stop member 4a may be affixed to wire line 4 to prevent the mandrel and end member 24 from falling more than a given distance below the housing of the apparatus.

From the above discussion it will become apparent that the invention is advantageous in that there is no necessity for providing a tubing to circulate cement out of a pipe string after a squeeze cementing operation. Furthermore, practically all of the cement that is lowered into the pipe string and that is not squeezed into the perforations is retrieved from the pipe string. Little if any cement will be left adhering to the walls of the pipe string. The apparatus is simple and virtually foolproof, and may be used repeatedly for successive squeezing operations.

The invention is not necessarily to be restricted to the specific structural details or arrangement of parts herein set forth, as various modifications thereof may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for use in squeezing a liquid through perforations in a perforated pipe string comprising:

an elongated mandrel having a bore to provide fluid passage between longitudinally spaced locations thereon;

means connected to the upper end of said mandrel `for lowering said mandrel into said pipe string;

first means including annular cup sealing means affixed to the lower portion of said mandrel to seal the space between the inner wall of the pipe string and said mandrel above the lower of said spaced-apart locations;

a tubular outer member around said mandrel abutting against said first means `and supported thereon, to form a container for a liquid with said mandrel and said first means, said outer member having an opening therein through which fluid pressure may be exerted on liquid contained therein;

anchoring means connected to said outer member, adapted to releasably anchor said outer member against further downward movement at a selected depth in the pipe string above the perforations so that said mandrel and first means may drop away from said outer member to position said first means below the perforations;

and means on said outer member for sealing the annular space between said outer member and the pipe string whereby hydraulic pressure exerted on the liquid will force the liquid through the perforations.

2. Apparatus for use in squeezing a liquid through perforations in a perforated pipe string comprising:

an elongated mandrel having a bore to provide fluid passage between longitudinally, spaced-apart locations thereon;

means connected to the upper end of said mandrel for lowering said mandrel :into said pipe string;

an end member aflixed to the lower end of said mandrel above the lower of said spaced-apart locations;

annular cup sealing means axed to said end member, adapted for sliding sealing engagement with the inner Wall of the pipe string;

an outer housing member extending from the upper portion of said mandrel to said end member, abutting `against said end member and supported thereon, and forming with said mandrel a container for liquid, said outer housing member having an opening therein through which fluid pressure may be exerted on liquid contained therein;

anchoring means connected to said outer member adapted to releasably anchor said housing member against downward movement iat a selected depth in the pipe string so that said mandrel and said end member may drop away from said outer member to position said end member below the perforations in the pipe string;

and an annular packing element afxed to said housing adapted 'to seal the annulus between the pipe string and said housing member.

3. Apparatus for use in squeezing a liquid through perforations in a perforated pipe string comprising:

an elongated mandrel ha'ving a bore to provide fluid passage between longitudinally, spaced-apart locations thereon, and `adapted to be connected to a wire line at its upper end;

an end member alixed to the lower end of said mandrel;

annular cup sealing means axed to said end member, adapted for sliding sealing engagement with the nner wall of the pipe string;

an outer housing member extending from the upper portion of said mandrel to said end member and forming with said mandrel a container for a liquid, said outer housing member having an opening therein through which iluid pressure may be exerted on liquid contained therein;

slip means slidably aixed to the exterior or" said housv ing, adapted to anchoringly engage the inner wall of said pipe string to oppose downward movement of said housing in said pipe string;

an annular packing element atlixed to said housing above said slip means adapted to seal the annulus between the pipe string and said housing member;

spring-biased locking dogs pivotally aixed to the upper portion of said housing adapted to pivot into engagement with the inner wall of the pipe string to oppose upward movement of said housing;

and a tapered shoulder on said elongated mandrel adapted lto pivot said locking dogs out of engagewith the pipe string wall when said elongated mandrel is fully extended into said housing.

4. Apparatus for use in `squeezing 4a liquid through pertorations in a perforated pipe string comprising:

an elongated mandrel having a bore to provide fluid passage between longitudinally, spaced-apart locations Ithereon, and adapted to be connected to a wire line :at its upper end;

an end member affixed to the lower end of said mandrel;

annular cup sealing means affixed to said end member,

adapted for sliding sealing engagement with the 1nner wall of the pipe string;

an outer housing member extending from the upper portion of said mandrel to said end member and forming with said mandrel a container for a liquid, said outer housing member having an opening therein through which fluid pressure may be exerted on liquid contained therein; l

slip means slidably affixed to the exterior of .said housing, adapted to fanchoringly engage the inner wall of said pipe string to oppose downward movement of said housing in said pipe string;

an annular packing element affixed to said housing above said slip means adapted to seal the annulus between the pipe string and said housing member;

spring-biased `locking dogs pivotally affixed to the upper portion of said housing adapted to pivot into engagement with the inner wall of the pipe string to oppose upward movement of said housing;

a tapered shoulder on said elongated mandrel adapted to pivot said locking dogs out of engagement with the pipe string wall when said elongated mandrel is fully extended into said housing;

and a shear pin connecting said housing to said mandrel whereby when said pin is sheared, said mandrel will fall away from said outer member and said mandrel to release the liquid into the pipe string bore.

5. Apparatus for use in squeezing a liquid through perforations in a perforated pipe string comprising:

an elongated mandrel having a bore to provide uid passage between longitudinally, spaced-apart locations thereon, and adapted to be connected to a wire Iline at its upper end;

an end member atlixed to the lower end of said mandrel;

`annular cup sealing means affixed to said end member, adapted `for sliding sealing engagement with the inner wall of the pipe string;

an outer member extending from the upper portion of said mandrel to said end member;

an annular slip mandrel slidably affixed to the lower end of said outer member and extending down to said end member to form with said outer member, said end member, and said elongated mandrel, a container for a liquid;

said outer member having an opening therein through which fluid pressure may be exerted on liquid contained therein;

slip means slidably iahxed to said slip mandrel,

adapted upon jarring of said outer member to anchoringly connect the inner wall of said pipe string to said outer member to oppose downward movement of said outer member;

an annular packer element aixed to said outer member above said slip means adapted to be forced into sealing engagement with the inner surface of said pipe string by said slip mandrel when said slip means is in anchoring engagement with the pipe string inner Wall;

spring-biased locking dogs pivotally aixed to the upper portion of said outer member adapted to pivot into engagement with the inner wall of the pipe string to oppose upward movement of said outer member;

a tapered shoulder on said elongated mandrel adapted to pivot said locking dogs out of engagement with the pipe string wall when said elongated mandrel is -fully extended into said outer member;

and a shear pin connecting said outer member to said mandrel whereby when said pin is sheared, said mandrel will fall away from said outer member and said slip mandrel to release the liquid into the pipe string bore.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS v 2,064,336 Bates Dec. l5, 1936 2,327,092 Botliin Aug. 17, 1943 2,703,622 Austin Mar. 8, 1955 2,707,998 Baker et al. May 10, 1955 2,713,907 Kline et al July 26, 1955 2,715,943 Truer f Aug. 23, 1955 2,934,146 Laval Apr. 26, 1960 2,954,827 Wheeler Oct. 4, 1960 

1. APPARATUS FOR USE IN SQUEEZING A LIQUID THROUGH PERFORATIONS IN A PERFORATED PIPE STRING COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED MANDREL HAVING A BORE TO PROVIDE FLUID PASSAGE BETWEEN LONGITUDINALLY SPACED LOCATIONS THEREON; MEANS CONNECTED TO THE UPPER END OF SAID MANDREL FOR LOWERING SAID MANDREL INTO SAID PIPE STRING; FIRST MEANS INCLUDING ANNULAR CUP SEALING MEANS AFFIXED TO THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID MANDREL TO SEAL THE SPACE BETWEEN THE INNER WALL OF THE PIPE STRING AND SAID MANDREL ABOVE THE LOWER OF SAID SPACED-APART LOCATIONS; A TUBULAR OUTER MEMBER AROUND SAID MANDREL ABUTTING AGAINST SAID FIRST MEANS AND SUPPORTED THEREON, TO FORM A CONTAINER FOR A LIQUID WITH SAID MANDREL AND SAID FIRST MEANS, SAID OUTER MEMBER HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN THROUGH WHICH FLUID PRESSURE MAY BE EXERTED ON LIQUID CONTAINED THEREIN; ANCHORING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID OUTER MEMBER, ADAPTED TO RELEASABLY ANCHOR SAID OUTER MEMBER AGAINST FURTHER DOWNWARD MOVEMENT AT A SELECTED DEPTH IN THE PIPE STRING ABOVE THE PERFORATIONS SO THAT SAID MANDREL AND FIRST MEANS MAY DROP AWAY FROM SAID OUTER MEMBER TO POSITION SAID FIRST MEANS BELOW THE PERFORATIONS; AND MEANS ON SAID OUTER MEMBER FOR SEALING THE ANNULAR SPACE BETWEEN SAID OUTER MEMBER AND THE PIPE STRING WHEREBY HYDRAULIC PRESSURE EXERTED ON THE LIQUID WILL FORCE THE LIQUID THROUGH THE PERFORATIONS. 